TAC Arts Project Support Grant

The TAC Arts Project Support grant provides funding for diverse arts projects that enhance community vitality in urban areas. Eligible applicants, including Tennessee-based nonprofit organizations and local government entities, must match the requested grant amount dollar-for-dollar. Projects may encompass various art forms such as visual arts, music, and theater, promoting engagement and accessibility. Applicants should carefully review ineligibility criteria to ensure their proposals align with the funding philosophy.

Register to use the Online Grants System as an individual or on behalf of an organization to receive a username and password. Individuals who represent organizations should get their own, individual accounts and not share or “pass down” the username or password among staff. You are strongly advised to register well in advance to the application deadline. Anyone registering close to the deadline date can expect delays in the processing of their grant application.
Support for arts projects and activities across all disciplines that focus on community vitality and engagement in urban counties.
Appropriate Activities
Proposed arts projects must involve one or more Commission recognized art forms, including: visual arts, craft, media, design, music, theater, dance, folk and ethnic, or literary arts. The following are example activities and expenditures that are consistent with the funding philosophy for APS & RAPS:

• Projects that involve and promote professional artists, especially Tennessee artists
• Visiting artists conducting master classes
• Specific aspects of workshops, festivals, and conferences
• Public performances, productions, and exhibitions produced by the applicant
• Exhibitions of art by professional and folk artists, especially Tennessee artists
• Projects involving and promoting folk and traditional artists
• Promotion, publicity, and newsletters
• Administrative and artistic staff support
• Research and documentation as part of an arts project or program development
• Consultancies and residencies for administrative and artistic activities
• The development of long-range planning documents

Improved program accessibility for underserved constituencies, e.g. children, people living in rural communities or isolated settings, people with living with disabilities, people of color, and senior citizens
Art in public places
Extensions of literary projects, journals with continuing publication, or juried anthologies
Technical assistance projects
Touring/presenting projects that bring professional and/or traditional folk performers to communities across the state

Eligibility

The organization must be able to match the requested grant amount in cash, dollar-for-dollar.An organization may submit only one Arts Project Support application for any given fiscal year.Applicant organizations must be chartered in Tennessee. National or regional 501(c)3 organizations, chartered in Tennessee, and serving as an umbrella organization applying for funds for another group are restricted to one application only per fiscal yearEligible Applicants501(c)3 Nonprofit organizations legally chartered & headquartered in Tennessee

Ineligibility

Arts organizations that receive revenue directly from a “New Specialty Earmarked Plate” under T.C.A 55-4-301 (a)(1) are ineligible for Commission grant funding.Arts Project Support applicants may not apply for operational support or a rural arts project support grant. Organizations may not apply in different categories to support different activities of the same project or event.K-12 schools are not eligible under this category. Arts education-based projects, especially those primarily serving youth, must be submitted in one of the Arts Education grant categories.The following are examples of activities and expenditures not fundable for arts projects. Insurance premiumsEndowmentsOffice space rentalJanitorial service and general physical plant maintenanceFood and hospitalityPermanent equipment purchasesScholarshipsPayment of accumulated deficitsCapital improvementsVanity publicationsOut-of-state travelScholarly arts-related research and writingCash awardsPurchase of local public artLegal feesPlanned fundraising activitiesEvents to which the general public is not invitedPayments to members of the organization’s boardPayments to an employee or official of the State of Tennessee (exceptions exist – contact TAC for details)